Padlock

• US 8,453,481 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Master Lock Company LLC (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meekma, Glenn P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett, Suzanne
• Application Number:
  US13/183,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20120011902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 70/21, 70/25, 70/38.A, 702781-2787, 70/52, 702/791
• US Class Current: 70/38.A
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0024 Cams
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0012 with rotary electromotors actuators with rotary electromotors per se H02K7/06, H02K23/68
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/06 Controlling mechanically-operated bolts by electro-magnetically-operated detents
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/22 Padlocks with sliding shackles, with or without rotary or pivotal movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/424 Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/459 Both legs engaged
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/489 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

An electromechanical lock includes a lock body and a locking mechanism disposed in the lock body. The locking mechanism includes a blocker, first and second cams, and a motor. The blocker is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The first cam is rotatable about a first axis between a blocker obstructing position and a blocker clearance position. The second cam is rotatable about a second axis, spaced apart from the first axis, to move the first cam between the blocker obstructing position and the blocker clearance position. The motor is coupled to the second cam to rotate the second cam in response to an electrical authorization signal supplied to the motor.

Claims

1. A padlock comprising:

a lock body,

a shackle having long and short legs receivable in corresponding first and second shackle openings in the lock body, the shackle being moveable in an axial direction between a retracted position and an extended position, the short leg being withdrawn from the lock body in the extended position; and

a locking mechanism disposed in the lock body, the locking mechanism comprising;

a locking member;

a blacker movable in an axial direction with respect to the lock body and having a blocking surface configured to hold the locking member in locking engagement with the shackle when the blocker is in a shackle engaging position, and further configured to allow the locking member to disengage from the shackle when the blocker is in a shackle disengaging position, to permit movement of the shackle from the retracted position to the extended position;

a latch member movable between a blocker obstructing position obstructing movement of the blocker from the shackle engaging position to the shackle disengaging position and a blocker clearance position permitting movement of the blocker from the shackle engaging position to the shackle disengaging position in response to an axial force applied to the shackle; and

a driver operable in response to proper user manipulation of the lock to move the latch member from the blacker obstructing position to the blacker clearance position to permit movement of the blocker to the shackle disengaging position, the driver being inoperable prior to proper user manipulation of the lock.

2. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the latch member comprises a rotatable cam having a cutout that aligns with an end portion of the blocker when the latch member is in the blocker clearance position.

3. The padlock of claim 2, wherein operation of the driver rotates the cam about a first axis that is spaced apart from a central axis of the blocker.

4. The padlock of claim 3, wherein the driver rotates about a second axis that is spaced apart from the first axis.

5. The padlock of claim 2, wherein the driver rotates at least 270°

to rotate the cam from the blocker obstructing position to the blocker clearance position.

6. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a rotatable cam.

7. The padlock of claim 6, wherein a portion of the rotatable cam abuts a portion of the latch member to terminate operation of the latch member for movement to the blacker obstructing position and for movement to the blocker clearance position.

8. The padlock of claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a motor.

9. The padlock of claim 8, further comprising an electronic lock interface disposed on the lock body and in electrical communication with the motor.

10. The padlock of claim 9, wherein the electronic lock interface comprises at least one of an electronic keypad, a wireless transceiver, and a biometric sensor.

11. An electromechanical lock comprising:

a lock body; and

a locking mechanism disposed in the lock body, the locking mechanism comprising;

a blocker movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a first cam rotatable about a first axis between a blocker obstructing position obstructing movement of the blacker from the locked position to the unlocked position and a blocker clearance position permitting subsequent movement of the blocker from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to an axial force applied to the blocker when the first cam is in the blocker clearance position;

a second cam rotatable about a second axis, spaced apart from the first axis, to move the first cam between the blocker obstructing position and the blocker clearance position; and

a motor coupled to the second cam to rotate the second cam in response to an electrical authorization signal supplied to the motor.

12. The lock of claim 11, wherein the first cam includes a cutout that aligns with an end portion of the blocker when the first cam is in the blocker clearance position.

13. The lock of claim 11, wherein the second cam rotates at least 270°

to rotate the first cam from the blocker obstructing position to the blocker clearance position.

14. The lock of claim 11, further comprising an electronic lock interface disposed on the lock body and in electrical communication with the motor to supply the authorization signal to the motor in response to proper manipulation of the electronic lock interface.

15. The lock of claim 14, wherein the electronic lock interface comprises an electronic keypad.

16. The lock of claim 11, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the first cam from the blocker clearance position to the blocker obstructing position after a predetermined time period from receipt of the authorization signal.

17. The lock of claim 11, wherein a portion of the second cam abuts a portion of the first cam to terminate operation of the first cam for movement to the blocker obstructing position and for movement to the blocker clearance position.

18. An electromechanical padlock comprising:

a lock body;

a shackle having long and short legs receivable in corresponding first and second shackle openings in the lock body, the shackle being moveable in an axial direction between a retracted position and an extended position, the short leg being withdrawn from the lock body in the extended position;

a locking mechanism disposed in the lock body, the locking mechanism comprising;

a locking member;

a blocker movable in an axial direction with respect to the lock body and having a blocking surface configured to hold the locking member in locking engagement with the shackle when the blocker is in a shackle engaging position, and further configured to allow the locking member to disengage from the shackle when the blocker is in a shackle disengaging position, to permit movement of the shackle from the retracted position to the extended position; and

an electromechanical driver operable in response to an electrical authorization signal supplied to the electromechanical driver to permit movement of the blocker to the shackle disengaging position in response to an axial force applied to the shackle; and

a battery electrically connected with the electromechanical driver to power the electromechanical driver; and

a battery door assembled with the lock body to limit access to the battery;

wherein the blocker further comprises a battery door latch configured to secure the battery door in a closed position when the blocker is in the shackle engaging position, and to permit movement of the battery door to an open position when the blocker is in the shackle disengaging position.

19. The padlock of claim 18, further comprising first and second battery contacts for electrically connecting the battery with the electromechanical driver, the first and second battery contacts each including an extension, wherein at least a portion of the first and second battery contact extensions are disposed outside of the lock body for electrical connection of a spare battery to the electromechanical driver.

20. The padlock of claim 18, wherein the battery door latch comprises a projection that extends from the blocker to interlock with a notch in the battery door when the blocker is in the shackle engaging position.